There is a curious practice involving durian seeds here in Sri Lanka, although it’s hard to get the full story from the winking old men who talk about it. They’ll tell me about half of the story, and then giving me a strange look out of the corner of their eyes, the old men draw Rob away and in very serious whispers convey this manly secret.
I, the wife, of course hounded Rob to tell me what the deal is with the durian seeds. All the old men would tell me was that many villagers in rural areas, particularly the elderly, make a habit of slicing up durian seeds and soaking them in water overnight. It will turn into jelly, our story tellers promised, and should be drunk (or slurped) upon rising.
Our friend and voluntary durian guide Weera also told us about this practice. “Why do they do it?” I asked. “It will make you strong, give power,” he explained, and giving me a sly glance, threw an arm around Rob and walked him about 10 feet away. That night, I demanded to know what was the big secret.
Rob shrugged and said I should have guessed. In Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines, we’d come across the belief that the durian flesh acts like a viagra for men. The saying “When durians fall, the sarongs go up,” is a common saying in both Malaysia and Indonesia for a reason. As it turns out, this study shows that durian flesh really does give men a boost, although maybe not as much as Weera claimed. According to Weera, slurping durian seed goo allows a man to last for 2 hours straight.
I don’t know if the soak water from durian seeds really has that effect. As a woman there’s no way for me to really experiment, but I at least had to see this goo effect for myself. The recipe calls for two durian seeds, diced into 8 to 10 pieces, and then left in one glass of water. The next time we ate durian, I saved two seeds and cut a plastic water
bottle to make a cup. I left the seeds overnight just covered with
water, to give it a better chance to get gooey.
In the morning, the water had turned a milky grey and the cup was emitting a harsh sour odor. Rob refused flat out to taste the stuff. Tentatively, I took a sip. It tasted bitter with a hint of poison, like biting into some inedible seed (which it is). I decided not to discover what the female version of 2 hours is, and dumped it out. As I poured the water down the sink, I noticed that it moved very slowly, in thick gelatinous waves. When I righted the cup, a string of ooze clung to the rim. I realized with distaste that in texture and color the durian seed goo was really a lot like…something else. Is this ironic or just gross?
I’ve never heard of people drinking durian seed water in any other country. No one mentioned it being so disgusting, so maybe I did it wrong. If you’ve heard of this, or have given it a try, please share your experiences below!
Update: Maneesha Humphrey, a Sri Lankan living in Ratnapura, informed me that I did indeed do this experiment wrong. I should have taken two durian seeds, chopped them in half, and placed them in an entire jug of water. This would have prevented the drink from becoming so slimy and unappealing. She says it’s an Ayurvedic recipe for general good health because the seed water acts to cool the body after eating durian, which has heating properties.
Ty says
Mmmm.. durian….. a new use for this wonderous fruit…
There is caution with regards to eating durian seed and it may apply to the water also. Apparently it contains high levels of cyclopropene fatty acids these should not be ingested. Due to being considered toxic and carcinogenic.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF02534071
https://infogalactic.com/info/Durian
Wijeratne says
Sliced Durian seeds are really a great drink, when u put them in a glass of water for a overnight and drink in the morning. Nowadays I am experiencing it. The drink gives me a real refreshment. W
Rob says
This stuff really works I thought I would try it I am a healthy 38 yr old male. I was well …… for more than two hrs wow!!! 🙂
Lily says
Funny how it is not well known that the seeds are edible. I always knew, although we seldom bothered to eat them. I think we roasted them. I imagine they must be very nutritious.
Other uses that we were told about, and I cannot claim they work:
– put a bit of salt and water in the durian shell and drink. Supposed to cool your body after your durian feast
– put the somewhat clean shells in some water and use the water to wash your hands. Supposed to remove the smell.
Not sure if either work.
Also found out today that rambutan seeds are edible. I never knew!
[email protected] says
Be careful, I know a few people who have gotten sick eating too many rambutan seeds. I quite like boiled durian seeds with salt.
Mu says
Only just recently I learned that durian seeds are edible and got really excited about it, took the seeds home after indulging one whole fruit by myself at my local market in Balik Pulau. The durian farmer thought I wanted to plant them but I told him I was going to cook and eat them and he looked really puzzled, even he didn’t know! I boiled them in salted water as how you’d do it with jackfruit seed for about 1 hr and they tasted pretty yummy. Quite similar tasting to jackfruit seed except it’s very slimy as you’re chewing it. The friend I learned it from was eating them to treat her knee ache and said it felt better after eating just a few seeds. Since my discovery I’ve been eating boiled durian seeds and promoting them to the village folks, 2 grannies I spoke to have never heard about eating durian seeds. And these folks were born and have lived all their lives in the middle of a durian plantation. I’ve also tried slicing them thinly after boiling and frying them like you do chips. Not as tasty as potatoes but makes a fantastic snack all the same. The water I used to boil the seeds smelled just like some sort of meat stock with garlic, no hint of durian at all, so I dumped in some washed rice and cooked it in the broth and it turned out beautiful.
Will try soaking and drinking the water … another week more before the season ends!
[email protected] says
I also think boiled durian seeds are tasty! And did you know you can mash them with some soya milk or oil and salt to make American-style Malaysian “mashed potatoes?” Haha. Glad you are enjoying them!
Mu says
Thanks for the tip Lindsay, have a pot of boiled seeds ready, can’t wait to try out your American Style Malaysian “mashed potatoes” recipe!
F.Afrah says
even i heared about this that when we soak the durian seed for a night and drink it the next day it removes the heat which it gave to the body.even i have drink it . its not that disgusting theres a bit uckish muckish feeling when ur gonna drink it . its good for health.
cut a one durian seed into a glass of water and drink it the next day.:)
[email protected] says
“Uckish” describes the sensation quite well 🙂
Hasitha Dushyantha says
Today I bought one Durian and the seller said me soak them overnight and drink.It will help to get more power . Ah I just knew the 'power' means that manpower.haha ! Now I drank one glass of socked Durian seed water.Hope to get 2 hours of ma******* 😀 😀
Lindsay Gasik says
Did it work?
Andrea Brito Babapulle says
Tried the brew, palatable not disgusting. Put 20 of them into water whole, not chopped. Submerged them in clean water, drank it the following day. It made me feel hot, body heat, not hot anything else. Could be bad for my cholesterol, but nothing major. Now I have 20 Durian seeds which have sprouted and I plan to either throw them into the Victoria gardens, or take them to Kandy for my quartz cottage. The trees are enormous. Called the king of fruit for its consideration and not falling during the day on anyone.
sula says
I've tried that for myself and it is not so disgusting as it says. I've never heard that it could make a man stay for 2 hours straight. I don't really understand why you have made a webpage just for Durian. But I appreciate it 🙂
Lindsay says
I have some recipes for cooking with durian seeds. I'll be putting them up soon(ish)!
Sami says
I read just this weekend that the seeds are very edible with cooking. I am curious now, though I don't imagine trying it myself. 🙂